Orientational dynamics of anthracene in a cyclodextrin functionalized layered solid.

Cyclodextrin cavities have been intercalated in a layered metal hydroxide to create hydrophobic nanopockets within the galleries of the layered solid. Anthracene molecules have been included in the anchored cavities by partitioning from a polar solvent. The excitation-emission fluorescence spectra of the included anthracene show a total absence of Stokes shift. The orientational dynamics of the isolated, solvent-free anthracene molecules in the anchored cyclodextrin cavities have been probed by fluorescence anisotropy decay measurements. The results have been compared with those for anthracene included in cyclodextrin cavities in aqueous solutions.